- Download and install the software.
- It will scan your computer for problems.
- The tool will then fix the issues that were found.
Mshta.exe is a file extension used by software developers to test their applications. This isn’t necessarily a good thing, though. If you’re downloading something suspicious, make sure to check out our list of best antivirus apps for Android.
Contents
File Information for Mshta.exe
The Microsoft HTML Application Host is a necessary application for Internet Explorer. It is located under the system 32 folder. There are many different versions, including.0,.1,.2, etc. Mshta.exe is used to host web applications written in HTML5/XHTML. These files can be hosted locally or online. If you want to know what version of mshta.exe file you are running, follow the steps below.
Step 2: Type %systemroot%\System32 into the Open box and press Enter.
Step 3: Locate mshta.exe and double-click it to open it. A window will pop up showing information about the current version of mshta file.
You can download the latest version of mshta here.
Is Mshta.exe a Legitimate File?
Mshta.exe is one of those files that you probably don’t want to delete. This program is usually found on Windows systems where it is used to download and install programs. However, there are some instances where mshta.exe is legitimate. For example, Microsoft Office applications use mshta.exe to launch add-ins. In addition, mshta.exe can be used to open documents that contain macros.
However, mshta.exes doesn’t display any visual interface or any other information about itself. Instead, it displays a blank window while running. Also, mshta.Exe isn’t considered a threat since it doesn’t contain any malicious code. Nevertheless, it’s recommended that you keep it away from your PC. If you’re not sure whether mshta.exe belongs to your application or to another program, try downloading a free tool like WinPatrol to scan your entire hard disk for suspicious processes.
Is Mshta.exe a Virus?
Mshta.exe is one of the most common Windows executables found on computers today. This file is used to open Microsoft Office files such as Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, etc. However, it does much more than just opening those types of files. In fact, there are some Mshta.exe variants out there that do things like steal data, install malware, and even delete important system files. If you find yourself wondering whether or not Mshta.exe is a virus, read on. We’ll explain what Mshta.exe really is, how it works, and why it might be dangerous.
What Is Mshta.exe?
First off, let us define what exactly Mshta.exe actually is. Mshta.exe stands for Microsoft Shell HTA File. An HTA file is a type of HTML Application. These files work similarly to ActiveX controls, except that they don’t require Internet Explorer to run. They’re often used to display information on webpages, including advertisements, coupons, product reviews, etc. When you download something from the internet, chances are good that you’ve downloaded an HTA file. For example, you probably downloaded the.hta extension when you clicked “Save As.”
How Does Mshta.exe Work?
As mentioned above, Mshta.exe opens up Microsoft Office documents. To understand how this happens, we must first look at how Microsoft Office documents are opened. There are three different ways to open a document in Microsoft Office: double clicking, selecting the file name, and dragging the file into the application window. Let’s take a quick look at each of these methods.
Double Clicking
When you double click on a document, it opens in the default program associated with that file format. For example, if you double click on a.docx file, it opens in Word. If you double click on a.txt file, it opens in Notepad. Double clicking on a.jpg file will usually open it in your image viewer.
Updated: December 2024
We highly recommend that you use this tool for your error. Furthermore, this tool detects and removes common computer errors, protects you from loss of files, malware, and hardware failures, and optimizes your device for maximum performance. This software will help you fix your PC problems and prevent others from happening again:
- Step 1 : Install PC Repair & Optimizer Tool (Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista).
- Step 2 : Click Start Scan to find out what issues are causing PC problems.
- Step 3 : Click on Repair All to correct all issues.
Should Mshta.exe Be Removed?
Mshta.exe is one of those files that pop up in our browsers without us even noticing it. This executable is usually used by some malicious software to display advertisements on your web browser. However, there are times when we accidentally download this file because of a mistake while browsing the Internet. If you find yourself wondering whether you should delete mshta.exe, here are some reasons why you should keep it around.
1. Advertisements
If you use your browser to surf the Web, chances are you’ve seen ads displayed on your screen. Some of these ads might come from reputable sources such as online news sites or social media platforms. But others could be coming from less trustworthy sources. In fact, many of these adverts are actually served by third parties. These third party advertisers pay money to have their ads shown on your screen. While most of the time, these ads are harmless, sometimes they contain harmful viruses or spyware. They can slow down your PC performance and make it crash.
2. Spam Emails
Spammers send out millions of emails every day. Many of these emails look like spam, but they aren’t. Instead, they look just like regular emails sent by friends, family members, coworkers, etc. When people open these emails, they often end up downloading something called a Trojan virus onto their computers. A Trojan virus is basically a piece of malware that does things on your computer that you don’t want it to do. For example, it can steal personal information, install additional programs, change your homepage settings, and even block certain websites. Most of the time, these Trojans are downloaded unknowingly. You might receive an email that looks like it came from someone you know, but it actually came from an unknown sender.
3. Spyware
Spyware is another type of malware that gets installed onto your computer unbeknownst to you. Once it’s installed, it starts tracking everything you do on your computer. It collects data about what you search for online, where you go, what you buy, and much more. Sometimes, spyware can also track your keystrokes and passwords. This way, hackers can access your accounts without having to ask you for your login credentials directly.
How to Remove Mshta.exe
Mshta.exe is a malicious file that poses as Microsoft Security Essentials. This application is bundled with many popular programs such as Office 2007/2010/2013/2016/2019, Adobe Reader.
1. Scan the computer with a reputable anti-malware program.
We should always keep our eyes out for suspicious processes running on your computer. If an unknown program starts behaving strangely, it could mean something’s amiss. Malicious software such as ransomware, spyware, adware, Trojans and keyloggers are just some examples of what we call “bad actors”. They’re often used to steal personal information, take over your device, or even shut down your computer completely.
In fact, there are several different ways hackers can use your PC to do harm. Some of them include:
* Spamming your inbox with unwanted emails
* Installing malicious programs on your system without your knowledge
* Hijacking your web browser and redirecting you to fake sites
* Phishing scams where criminals try to trick you into giving up sensitive data
To protect yourself against cyber threats, it’s important to regularly update your operating systems and applications, install security patches, and run antivirus protection.
2. Mashta.exe should be removed from Programs and Features.
Mashta.exe is one of those programs you don’t want to see on your computer anymore. This malicious software can steal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, banking info, and even personal photos and videos. If you’re infected with Mashta.exe, you’ll notice that your browser homepage changes to www.mashtacomputer.com. You might think that’s just another site you’ve never heard of, but it could actually be a fake version of your favorite sites. In fact, there are dozens of different versions of Mashta.exe out there. Some of them look like legitimate applications, while others attempt to trick unsuspecting victims into downloading malware onto their computers.
If you’re unsure whether or not you have Mashta.exe installed on your computer, here’s how to find out. First, open up Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\%USERNAME%. Then, locate the folder named “AppData”. Inside of that folder, you’ll find a file called “Roaming”, along with several subfolders. One of those folders is named “LocalState” — if you can’t find it, try searching for “LocalState” inside of the “AppData” folder. Once you find it, double-click on the file to view its contents. At the very bottom of that file, you’ll see a string of text that looks something like this:
C:\Users\%USER_ID%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\mashta.exe
You can use this string of text to identify the location of your malicious application. Simply replace %USER_ID% with your username and mashta.exe with whatever name your particular version of Mashta.exe uses. For example, my username is “jasonbaker” and my malicious app is called “mashta.exe”. So I’d type this into Notepad:
C:\Users\”jasonbaker\”\AppData\Roaming\Start Menu\Program\Startup\mushta.exe
Now, save that document somewhere safe and close it down. Next, go ahead and delete the entire “AppData” folder. After doing that, reboot your computer and check to make sure that you no longer have Mashta.exe running.
3. Discover the startup location of the Mshta.exe file.
Mshta.exe is a program that runs automatically whenever you start your PC. This utility is used by Microsoft to update Windows operating systems. Type “mft”. If you see a list of folders, scroll down to the bottom folder and double-click on the mshta.exe file. You’ll notice that there are several versions of this file, including one named mshtasetup.exe. Double-clicking on this file opens another window that displays the path of the executable file. In most cases, the path is located within the following directories: %SystemRoot%\system32\config\systemprofile\.local\AppData\LocalLow\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\
If the above directory does not exist, try searching for it under %userprofile%.
To delete the Mshta.Exe file from your system, follow the steps outlined here.
1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Click on Programs & Features.
3. Select Uninstall a Program.
4. Scroll down to Mshta.exe and select it.
4. Run System File Checker (SFC).
Malicious software programs like Mshta.exewouldn’t cause any problems unless you allow them to run without being detected. If you don’t know how to stop them, it’s best to call a professional immediately. When finished, look over the list of errors and fixes generated by SFC. If anything needs fixing, follow the instructions to fix it.
5. Mshta.exe should be removed from the Windows registry.
MSHTA.EXE is a malicious file that belongs to Microsoft Windows operating systems. This virus is very harmful because it causes damage to the operating system. If you are facing problems while opening MSHTA.EXE infected files, then you must delete this virus immediately. You can use Disk Cleanup Tool to remove this threat completely from your PC.
1. Download Disk Cleanup Tool from here.
2. Run the downloaded setup file and follow the instructions.
3. After installation process completes, launch the program and select Scan option.
4. Now, press Start button to scan your entire hard drive.
5. When scanning finishes, you will see list of detected threats along with their names. Select each one and click OK button.
6. Finally, click Finish button to complete removal process.
RECOMMENATION: Click here for help with Windows errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe or a virus?
MSHTA.EXE is an innocent file, used by Windows to launch programs. But sometimes, it gets infected by viruses. If a virus uses MSHTA.EXE to run malware, it could cause serious problems. So what happens if we open up MSHTA.EXEToo many times? What does it do? We’ll tell you how to check if mshtae.exe is malicious.
The answer depends on the type of program you are trying to run. For example, if you want to open a.docx document, you don’t need to worry about opening mshta.exe too often. However, if you want to play games online, you should avoid opening mshta.exefor a long period of time because it could slow down your computer.
But even though you shouldn’t use mshta.exe very often, there are still some situations where you need to know if it’s safe or a virus. Here are some tips to help you identify whether mshta.exeis safe or malicious.
1. Check the registry
If you see suspicious entries in the registry, it might mean that mshta.exehas been hijacked by a virus. You can access the registry via regedit.exe, which is located in the Start menu. Click “Start”, then select “Run”. Type “regedit” into the box and press Enter. Locate the following keys: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ShellExecuteExToOpenFile. Delete the value named “mshta.exe” and reboot.
2. Use Process Explorer
Process Explorer is a free tool that helps you monitor processes running on your PC. To download it, go to www.sysinternals.com/downloads/. After downloading, install and start the application. In the main window, locate the process called mshta.exeand double-click it. This opens the Properties dialog box, where you can view information such as the name of the executable file, the path to the executable file, the command line arguments passed to the executable, the parent process ID, and the current working directory.
Is mshta.exe a dangerous file?
mshta.exe executes HTML Helpers (.HTH). This executable is used by Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, Visio, Project, and FrontPage.
There’s nothing wrong with mstha.exe itself, but there are some issues related to malicious software. If you’re downloading files, make sure you know what you’re doing.
If you receive a suspicious attachment, delete it immediately. You don’t want to download something harmful, especially if you’re opening it with Windows Explorer.
Downloading malware could lead to severe consequences like identity theft, data loss, and even financial losses due to phishing attacks.
A virus infection can cause many major problems including computer crashes, slower performance, and security breaches, among others.
Malware infections can spread via emails, USB drives, and external hard disks.